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"While HSAA has no interest in adding to the stress of our members, the constant change in programs, service delivery and governance undermine our ability to credibly provide reassurance to our members." - Elisabeth Ballermann, HSAA President.
Edmonton (19 June 2013) – On June 14, President of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE), the leading union of health care professionals in the province wrote to the Alberta Health Minister voicing serious concerns over the increased confusion in the public health system.
On June 12, the Minister fired the entire governing board of the Alberta Health Services (AHS). Stakeholders are concerned about the increased pressure this decision will put on frontline workers, patients and the overall system. It was only five years ago that the AHS was created from the formerly regionally structured system. Focusing a new redesign, at a time when the system is facing some of the worst cutbacks in decades will certainly take the focus away from quality patiEnt care.
Continue reading for Ballermann's full letter to Minister Horne:
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June 14, 2013 The Honourable Fred Horne Dear Minister Horne: I am in receipt of your letter of June 13th regarding your decision to terminate the appointments of the Chair and Board of Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the announcement of a review of the governance structure of AHS. On behalf of HSAA, thank you for confirming that the procedures for collective bargaining with health-care unions will not change and that all ongoing and upcoming collective bargaining will proceed unaffected. We also welcome your statement of confidence in front-line health-care workers. However, you must understand that a move as drastic as firing the AHS board at the same time that promised funding has been cut, at the same time that front-line health-care workers are being laid off, and at the same time that service-delivery models (specifically home care) are being radically changed, will inevitably lead to uncertainty and anxiety among those valuable workers you are trying to reassure. While HSAA has no interest in adding to the stress of our members, the constant change in programs, service delivery and governance undermine our ability to credibly provide reassurance to our members. Sincerely, Elisabeth Ballermann, President, HSAA |
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE